Ed Sheeran has encouraged fans to join the stem cell register in support of a seven-year-old cancer patient who is desperately searching for a matching donor.

The musician posted a picture of himself holding a piece of paper with the phrase "#JoinforJasmi" to encourage people to sign up to the registry held by the blood cancer charity DKMS.

He captioned the picture: "7 year old Jasmi urgently needs a blood stem cell donor. There is a worldwide search and we urge you to join the register. It's free! It's easy! A simple cheek swab and you might be able to save a life."

Jasmi Lindberg Cooke, from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia for four years.

Young Jasmi is battling lymphoblastic leukaemia (Image: PA)

Following a relapse she is in hospital receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Charity DKMS said the youngster now "urgently" needs to find a matching blood stem cell donor to give her the best chance of survival.